Why I've been a lame "daily" painter

I cringe every time I see my blog title "A Painting a Day by Patti Mollica"  Hardly, right? Once a week... maybe? Well it's time to come clean, I actually have a credible alibi. I just finished writing and illustrating my second book.  The title is: Color Theory: An essential guide to color - from basic principles to practical applications". The writing was the "faster" part, (using that term loosely), all the paintings and diagrams that went with the writing were the time-gobblers. So in my defense - I actually have been painting daily - but not posting the new work created as color examples for the book. I did over 100 diagrams and charts to illustrate color as value, absolute color temperature, relative color temperature, color as focal point, chroma contrast etc etc.  The paintings created show examples of various color schemes, value depictions, lighting conditions, color moods, color movements throughout history, etc etc. I have to say, the final-chapter-paintings were the most fun: "throw out all the color theory models and just play with color like a kid".  How could I leave that concept out - isn't it how we came to love art in the first place?

The book will be available January 2013, and now it's time to enjoy my summer... but why is it so chilly?

Room With a View (of the receptionist)

Bryant Park Fountain, Oil, 12x12"

 A truly dreary day it was, rain was imminent. Naturally I assumed - I'll take some photos and go back to my cozy, dry studio and paint. No such luck! I was asked to schlep up to the 24th floor of the Bryant Park Corporate Offices and set up in the conference room. Huh? Fortunately I did a sketch of the fountain area before the downpour, and with a lovely view of Allison, proceeded to "go with the flow" of this plein air-less setting. 

Showers in the Park

Showers at Bryant Park 12x12" Acrylic on Canvas

For the most part it was sunny and hot during the two weeks I was painting in the city, but there were a couple of days that started out cloudy and then it eventually started pouring. I moved my entire operation to a nearby outdoor restaurant that had awnings, which I took shelter under. I didn't bother setting up my easel again, I just sat at a table with my painting in my lap and all my stuff on the floor. Not an ideal situation, but that's plein air for you ... the show must go on! 

Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group 12x12" Acrylic

Here is another painting from my NYC Plein Air Painting project. I kept noticing that a lot of men were wearing those deep blue shirts, such a pretty color! They must be in fashion now. Someone asked me in an email why I did these NYC Paintings. It was basically a commission in which the Bryant Park Corporation chose 4 artists to depict the setting, over a 2 week period. We each had a different two week time slot. We were allowed to paint anywhere we chose in the 2 square block area of 40 to 42nd St, between 5th and 6th Avenues. The only stipulation is that we be present all day, painting plein air. Two of the days it rained, and I will show those paintings in my next posts. For the other days, it was mostly sunny, verrry hot. The paintings I did during that time became their property, as part of their collection, to display as they wished. Here is more information on the project, with links to the other artists too.